IAS officers have managed to escape from major penalties

After huge cash was recovered from Arvind Joshi,IAS and his wife Tinoo Joshi,IAS, the state government recommended their dismissal from service.

New Delhi, December 26, 2012(Agencies): Almost half of the IAS officers against whom penalties such as compulsory retirement or dismissal from service were recommended as part of disciplinary proceedings have managed to escape from major penalties since 2007.
According to an RTI reply received by The Indian Express from the Department of Personnel and Training, such action, including cut in pension, has been suggested against 45 IAS officers in the past five years. Action against 24 of them is stuck — either the state governments concerned haven’t responded or the matter is in the final stages.
Against some of these officers, disciplinary action had been recommended following conviction in trial courts. Sources said state governments have been know to delay the same by avoiding recommending clearly the proposed action in a prescribed format. Asked by the DoPT to send the proposal again, many states have failed to revert despite repeated reminders.
Some officers against whom action is delayed because of no response from states:
Arvind Joshi and his wife Tinoo Joshi (both Madhya Pradesh cadre, 1979 batch): After huge cash was recovered from them, the state government recommended their dismissal from service. But the proposal was not sent as per the prescribed procedure. Therefore, in May 2012, it was asked to re-send the same. According to the DoPT, “The state government has been reminded and a response is awaited.”
Radha Krishna Singh (retired) (Uttar Pradesh cadre, 1997 batch): The state government sent a proposal to take action against him for alleged irregularities in the implementation of the MNREGA during his tenure as district magistrate of Sultanpur. Said DoPT: “The state government was requested to furnish complete case records along with their comments justifying the action proposed.” The response of the state is awaited.
Sunderlal (Uttarakhand cadre, 1990 batch): The state government recommended a cut in pension for irregularities committed by him while he was vice-chairman of Haridwar Development Authority. But the proposal, when finally received by the DoPT, was “found to be time barred”.
I Venkatswarlu (Andhra Pradesh, 1984 batch): In one case, the state government’s proposal “was found to have become time barred”. In another case, the state government’s response on the request to “furnish the necessary clarification” is awaited despite reminders.
A K Sinha (retired) (Haryana cadre, 1967 batch): The state government was unable to locate the address of the officer concerned. After it was traced, said the DoPT reply, “the state government was advised that one more attempt could be made to serve the inquiry report. The state government has not reverted.”
V M Lal (retired) (Maharashtra, 1970 batch): For his supervisory lapse, the state government recommended a 10 per cent cut in pension but, according to the DoPT, “State government has not sent clarification justifying the proposal despite reminders.”
D C Sankhla (retired) (UT, 1969 batch): Withholding of his pension was recommended. After an advice from the UPSC, the DoPT sought some clarifications from the Ministry of Home Affairs, but its “response is awaited”.
Padma Jaiswal (UT, 2003 batch): On allegations like misappropriation of Rs 24.50 lakh and amassing huge amount of money, a proposal of dismissal from service was recommended against her. Case records were sent to UPSC on July 18 last and a response is awaited.
Sanjeeb Kumar Ray (Orissa cadre): The state government requested a cut in his pension for conviction in a corruption case. The accused officer raised some legal questions and the state government was asked by the DoPT to confirm position regarding his appeal.
V K Varshney (retired) (UP, 1990 batch): He was accused of serious irregularities in purchase of books under the total literacy programme. The state government was asked by the DoPT to furnish complete details of the case in September 2010 but its response is awaited despite reminders.
Vishnudeo Prasad Singh (retired) (Bihar, 1995 batch): He is accused of irregularities in the MGNREGS while posted as chief development officer of Madhubani. The state government recommended a cut in pension, but merely forwarded the representation without specific comments from itself. A decision is yet to be taken.
Shivendra Kishore Sinha (retired) (Bihar, 1974 batch): A cut in his pension was recommended by the state government. It asked the DoPT in September 2010 to furnish complete records of the case but a response is awaited despite reminders.
V Sarma Rao (retired) (Andhra Pradesh, 1975 batch): The state government recommended a pension cut for alleged irregularities as commissioner of Archeology and Museums. Since the recommendation was not in the prescribed format, the state government was requested to send it again. Despite reminders, it is yet to do so.
Narendra Kumar (retired) (UP, 1990 batch): The cut in his pension was recommended but documents presented by the state government were not in proper format. Therefore the DoPT requested the state government to send a complete proposal as per the format. Despite reminders, the state government is yet to reply.
(With inputs of The Indian Express)